I don’t know many people that would say ‘not me’ to that question. The harder question is what are you willing to do to get it? This past week I took a step outside my regular routine and explored my options. Specifically, I had an ‘audition’ to be on the day-time TV game show with the above name.
It was a very simple process and anyone who feels they know a decent amount of trivia ought to give it a try. I simply went online and visited the Millionaire web site, filed out a quick form, and selected my preferred days to attend an audition. The next day I was notified by email when my scheduled appointment would be and where I should go.
On the day of the audition I went to ABC’s studio on 66th street and checked in with the cheerful intern waiting out front to greet people. After standing in line for a short while we were let into what looked like a cafeteria, handed a closed envelope containing a test, and directed to take a seat along with all the other participants in the room. Then, as a group, we were given 10 minutes to answer 30 multiple choice questions. Once the time had passed tests were collected and taken to be corrected. Those who ‘passed’ would be asked to stay for an interview. Those who did not would be asked to leave.
While waiting for our tests to be corrected a number of people asked questions about how the process worked of the intern overseeing the testing. Listening to her cheerful response to every questions, a ubiquitous “that information is on the web site”, I started thinking about how we have all become so reliant on the internet. Not just using it for our own information needs but also using it as a tool to provide information to our patrons.
As I watched the eye rolling around me at the lack of knowledge displayed by using this generic answer I wondered if I rely too much on the “check web site” answer. Have I allowed myself to take a knowledge short cut because the information is easy to access online? Is my staff undertrained because the information is available online? The short answer to that is no simply because I have a very knowledgeable staff. But there is a small piece of me who sees this as a cautionary tale about how we provide information to patrons and making sure we don’t assume that because information is available online people don’t still want good answers provided in person by well trained staff.
We are Library Professionals: we know stuff. Let’s remember to share what we know in all the ways that patrons want to receive the information.
The critical question for this blog though is am I going to be on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? For now I will say maybe… someday…
It is easy enough to try out if you are interested. All the information about how is available online at:
http://www.dadt.com/millionaire/
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Eileen. I love this blog, it has a personal touch and it is very cleverly written.
ReplyDeleteYou should try out for on Howie Mandell's "Deal or No Deal" show next. There can't be a test for randomly choosing from numbered suitcases. And we can relate it to customer service at the library as we are often asked questions that put us on the spot like the contestants- "Do I have access or no access?", "Do I have to pay the fine?, or no fine?"
ReplyDeleteHi Eileen:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the well written blog, which ties in different issues with with your signature wit and charm! I do want to add that I agree with you about relying too heavily on the internet. I think that there are different contexts for different situations.
In the case of the intern at Millionaire saying it's on the web while speaking to potential contestants may not necessarily be the most effective way to answer questions. In a setting like a service desk at the library, since we use computers to do our work, it would make sense.
Often times I like showing library users themselves what it says on the library's website, re: policies, procedures, addresses etc. The web comes in handy, say for example when I am explaining the policies re: room reservations. I think it's helpful for people to see what's been written and posted on the library's website in case they want to refer back to it in the future; and to also show them there are in fact policies in place and that I'm not making it up. As a side bar we often get library users who seem unclear/or wary of the policies.
Showing users so that they can see for themselves the status of a book/location of an item is also helpful.
So, I think it's the place and context re: instructing users to check or refer to the site.
That's the thing and I hope that you do get to sit across from Meredith Viera and win what you can on upcoming episode of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire!
I think A.J. makes some excellent points about situation and context. Because we work in higher ed, I think the people we work with might be technologically literate than the general population. As a research library we support the educational mission of the university, so instructing users on how to find the information they need is at the core of this. Of course, sometimes users simply need a quick answer and are not up for an educational experience, so again, context is key.
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